Marlin, Blue – Hawaii

Blue Marlin is a large pelagic species, found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide. This assessment is for Blue Marlin caught in the U.S. Hawaii fishery only. Blue Marlin mature early, produce many eggs, and grow fast, reaching sizes up to 450 cm and 900 kg. The last population assessment for Blue Marlin in the Pacific indicated that abundance levels were moderate, but the assessment has not been updated for over a decade.

This species is primarily captured with pelagic longlines, which result in minimal habitat damage, but do catch some vulnerable non-target species. Around Hawaii, trolling is another common method used to catch Blue Marlin. In the U.S. Hawaii fishery, managers have put in place regulations to reduce bycatch of vulnerable species.

Consumers should note that illegally-sold Atlantic Blue Marlin reaches the U.S. Market. Be wary unless you are certain that the Blue Marlin you are considering was caught in the U.S. Hawaii fishery.

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Fish Key:

Species has a combination of problems such as overfishing, high bycatch, and poor management.

Some problems exist with this species' status or catch methods, or information is insufficient for evaluating.

Species is relatively abundant, and fishing methods cause little damage to habitat and other wildlife.

A fishery targeting this species has been certified as sustainable and well managed to the Marine Stewardship Council's environmental standard. Learn more at http://www.msc.org.

These fish contain levels of mercury or PCBs that may pose a health risk to adults and children. Our source of information is http://seafood.edf.org/. We also recommend that you check local advisories.